Eating - It’s hard enough to eat well at home, much less on vacation. Think about your accommodations and what you’ll have access to.

Will you be eating out more or cooking in? How many days of each?

Go to the local grocery to stock up on fruits, veggies, water, etc.

Resist the temptation to go crazy with snacks and processed food because it’s easy.

Do some grilling on day ONE: chicken, beef, pork, fish, veggies, etc. Use some of the leftovers for snacks rather than “snacks.”

If you are going out to eat a lot, stick with the basics: non-processed, whole foods, such as meats, fish, and veggies. Make your side dishes healthy; enjoy the main dish – but remember your portions.

Exercise - Consider your accommodations and figure out what will be available to you (weights, cardio, nothing). What does your schedule looks like and how much do you want to devote to exercise? You’re on vacation so try to figure out how this won’t impede your experiences and time frames.

Are there other activities you are going to be doing that are active, such as hiking or biking that could be considered a replacement for a training session? Here are some suggestions based on accommodations:

If you have a gym and some weights, stick with the basics.

If you only have cardio equipment, I suggest sprints and some bodyweight exercises.

If you have nothing, get creative!!

Drinking - This can be one of the biggest challenges on vacation.

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate. Keep a water bottle with you at all times (out and about, at the pool, on the boat, wherever). Space each drink with a water in-between.

Be aware that you are drinking and why you are doing it. Many of us drink to enjoy the social nature of the environment and the people around us, but sometimes the drinks flow as more of a habit than actually enhancing the experience. Create some awareness around that cocktail in your hand.

Drink better stuff. This goes back to the enjoyment factor and being more aware. If you have the more expensive stuff, whether your choice be craft beers or high-end whiskey/bourbon/vodka, you’re less likely to go crazy.

Relax - Don’t come back from vacation more stressed out, in worse shape, and needing a cleanse to get back on track. That’s what vacation should have been. You should be more fresh and clear-minded when you come back than when you left.

Work: Minimize it. Get it done ahead of time so it’s not weighing over your head the whole time for when you get back. Hide your phone, or at least turn off your notifications so you’re not being pinged by emails and Facebook all day.

Sleep: Get your rest. Try not to deviate much from your normal routine. The more well rested you are, the more enjoyable your experiences will be.

Be Present: Don’t let all the other distractions take away from your experience. If you’re there with your family, then actually BE there! It’s easy to let the other things like work and/or stressing over your diet get in the way of actually having a good time.

Don’t Feel Guilty: It’s vacation. You’re allowed to splurge a little. This is why you put in all of that hard work the rest of the year. If you typically eat well and get your workouts in you’re ahead of the game. Cut yourself a little slack if this truly is a vacation and it’s a rarity for you.